18 May 2025

Can An A-10 Warthog Destroy A Tank?

Luke Diaz

The first United States Air Force aircraft built specifically for close air support of ground forces was the A-10C Thunderbolt II. All ground targets, anything from tanks to the most specialized armored vehicles, can be annihilated by these straightforward, efficient, and resilient twin-engine attack jets.

The goal of the A-X program was to build upon the Douglas A-1 Skyraider's performance. To fulfill that, the powerful 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary autocannon would become the center of the Thunderbolt II's airframe as the core of its mission. The 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling cannon of the Thunderbolt II can shoot 3,900 rounds per minute to demolish tanks.

The Warthog has a variety of weapons systems, including electronic countermeasures, target penetration aids, as well as a variety of air-to-surface weapons. It was a standout aircraft during the Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). Later, the A-10 served in the Middle East against the Islamic State and in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.

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